Small Packages

Christian Constitutionalist
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Small Packages
By: Reed R. Heustis, Jr.
July 11, AD 2006

“Good things come in small packages.”

“A little goes a long way.”

“Quality over quantity.”

Intuitively, people know that these things are true. Their consciences dictate as much. The Bible even confirms them with many stories, including the underdog victories of David over Goliath, and Gideon’s army of 300.

The only size that matters is the size of an infinite God.

Unfortunately, most people ignore their consciences because the human mind works differently than the mind of God. The human mind is naturally at odds with God’s mind. It hates God. It knows only self-aggrandizement and self-fulfillment. It is intoxicated with the things of Man and rebels against the things of God. It acknowledges only itself, and seeks to make itself “bigger” and “better” without involving God.

While there is nothing wrong with seeking growth and strength in the realms of commerce, politics, and church, when “Bigness” is sought for Bigness’ sake - to fulfill the rationales and philosophies of Man rather than the advancement of the Kingdom of God - the path becomes a road to destruction.

America once valued Smallness in favor of Bigness. It once remained free from the affairs of foreign nations because it was not obsessed with the concept of Empire as today’s America is. People all over the world considered the American Republic to be a friend precisely because of her tendency toward Smallness and non-involvement with foreign dilemmas that were none of her business. Today the world hates America because of its obsession with Bigness and its quest for Empire.

At one time, Americans were a highly devout Christian people. The Gospel of Jesus Christ served as the rock on which their liberty and freedom rested. Take away that rock, and liberty and freedom would vanish.

According to William J. Federer in America’s God and Country, French statesman Alexis de Tocqueville, who toured the United States in 1831, intended to observe “the American people and their institutions.” In his book, Democracy in America, de Tocqueville wrote, “Upon my arrival in the United States the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer I stayed there, the more I perceived the great political consequences resulting from this new state of things…. Moreover, all the sects of the United States are comprised within the great unity of Christianity, and Christian morality is everywhere the same.”

The Christian worldview was so obviously pervasive that de Tocqueville commented, “…Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.”

Due to their deeply held convictions, Americans collectively were able and willing to set aside their natural inclination toward Bigness, and were willing to seek the things of God rather than the things of Man. A more Godly culture naturally followed.

Nearly 175 years later, things have changed so dramatically that if de Tocqueville toured the America of 2006, he would write about the lust for power that spawns the gargantuan Bigness of America - a Bigness that is anything but Great. He would notice very little religious flavor at all, except perhaps the stench of Pluralism.

In de Tocqueville’s day, commercial entities were mostly small and community-oriented. Customers were often on a first-name basis with storeowners. A commercial transaction represented much more than merely the bottom lines of a balance sheet. Business was relationship-oriented and community-minded. People cared more for the wellbeing of others, and when one family found itself on rough times, neighbors, including business owners, were more apt to assist; and by the same token, when local “mom and pop shops” found themselves on rough times, the community often rallied in support. Today, multinational corporations and gigantic franchises force the little guys out of business; and commercial transactions have yanked the personal touch out of the equation. Customers have become mere faceless digits, and storeowners are now legal fictions. Whereas in 1831 each American community differed greatly from other communities, today it is difficult to identify any difference between a small town on the West Coast with a small town on the East Coast. Commercial entities have become so dominant that the very unique, quaint small-town characteristics, many of which are steeped in Christian culture, have been erased in favor of a Christless commercialism and materialism.

In de Tocqueville’s day, government was smaller and more loyal to Biblical principles. Communities were able to govern themselves without outside federal interference. People respected the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which acknowledged that powers not delegated to the Federal Government are reserved to the states and to the people. As a result, states were more independent and localities were greatly influenced by the religious people who actually lived there. However, this principle of small, local governance was soon traded for the philosophy of Bigness, resulting in the War Between the States and mass bloodshed, not to mention a century-and-a-half-long drift away from the Biblical principle of bottom-up governance. Today the Federal government wields so much influence on states and communities that even a tiny neighborhood cannot seem to run any of its own small-town affairs without first asking for a permission slip from a Federal hippie.

In de Tocqueville’s day, churches were much smaller and more loyal to Biblical principles. Consequently, churchgoers were much more zealous and churches wielded a much greater influence on civil government. Today, the itch to become “bigger and better” entices churches to become “megachurches” by forsaking the Biblical model of preaching sin and repentance in favor of contemporary “fuzzy feel good” messages that “don’t offend.” Today’s mainstream churches have become places of pomp and entertainment where “members” can sneak in for a Sunday “sermon” and then sneak out without anyone recognizing them or holding them accountable. Megachurches have become more like movie cinemas with stadium seating – the only things missing are popcorn and Milk Duds. As a result of its lust for Bigness for Bigness’ sake, churches have forfeited their Christian influence on the American landscape, and have instead become virtual powerbrokers with the Two-Party Duopoly that has no desire to restore true Biblical principles.

Most modern people, if asked whether they prefer Smallness to Bigness in the realm of commerce, governance and church life, will favor Smallness hands down. Deep inside, they know small business is better than Big Business; small government is better than Big Government; and small churches are better than Megachurches. However, what is truly sad is that today, when push comes to shove, most of these same people will support Big Business over small business; Big Government over small government; and Megachurches over the small church.

America has become obsessed with Bigness for Bigness’ sake.

Today, the materialistic philosophy of Bigness permeates all levels of society, including law and politics, more than it ever has in United States history. In pursuance of Bigness, political parties often surrender any Biblical principles they once held. They rationalize that certain principles “turn people off” and prevent the party from “growing its numbers.” They therefore seek to attract those who reject Christ into their ranks, and in so doing, they necessarily compromise their Christian foundation. Any subsequent victory is therefore a victory for the party, and not for the Biblical principles it abandoned.

A political party that is founded upon Biblical principles must follow the road less traveled, regardless of the mocking insults hurled by critics who rant that it “cannot win” on such a path. These same naysayers ultimately reject the concept of an omnipotent God who controls all things. They think that they can “go it alone” and build the Tower of Babel all over again, and that God is somehow going to bless those efforts.

Ironically, around the time that de Tocqueville toured America, John Quincy Adams proclaimed during an unpopular political fight against slavery, “Duty is ours, results are God’s.” In Adams’ mind, Americans had the duty to put principle above politics, no matter how unpopular those principles were. If God ordained such principles to triumph on that particular day and hour, then it would be so. Man must sow and reap the seeds, but only God brings forth the increase. (John 4:37 , 1 Cor.3:6 ).

Contrary to the godless philosophy of Pragmatism championed by the self-professed wise ones who elevate politics above principle, “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty….” (I Cor. 1:27)

If American politics is ever to return to the right track, then it will be as a result of God using what the world considers to be foolish and weak. When political parties succumb to the enticement of Bigness for Bigness’ sake, they abandon their mission and their God.

The best things come in small packages. America needs more small businesses, less government, and more small churches from sea to shining sea. America needs more Davids and more Gideon’s armies.

She also needs a political party that will reject the follies of Bigness for Bigness’ sake, and put King Jesus first.

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